Sometimes, books are like friends. And sometimes, books remind us of old friends. That's the case for me right now, as I think of some of the titles that have crossed my desk lately -- books on Roman history, a Sherlock Holmes collection, a Lincoln novel coming from Stephen Harrigan. All are subjects that would have drawn the interest of my keen-minded former colleague Bryan Woolley, who died in January at age 77.

Bryan was well-known to Dallas Morning News readers as a longtime feature writer and regular contributor of book reviews. He led a remarkable life; his obituary is published here, and my own tribute can be read here.

Bryan was fiercely proud of his West Texas roots, and not long ago, his family contacted me to say that the Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library set up a scholarship in his honor. The annual award of $1,000 will be given to a graduating senior from Fort Davis High School or Valentine High School for a winning essay, judged by the scholarship committee of the library board.

Bryan would love this; a contest played a significant role in his beginnings as a writer, as he recounted in this review.